Ex-SLT firefighter files lawsuit saying deputy told employer he was in a gang
By Stephen Baxter, Santa Cruz Sentinel
WATSONVILLE — A 24-year-old Watsonville man is suing Santa Cruz County law enforcement agencies after he was pulled over on his motorcycle and later lost his job because a deputy called his employer.
Kristopher Klay was riding his motorcycle on Highway 1 near Watsonville in May 2013 when he was stopped by members of the Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force. A South Lake Tahoe firefighter at the time, Klay was wearing a “cut,” or leather vest with a patch of the Guerillas Motorcycle Club — a group that rides together and raises money for youth organizations.
Deputies who pulled him over and stopped another rider who was riding with him on a second motorcycle. Authorities asked Klay for his registration, which was current, and Klay and the other rider were let go without being ticketed or arrested.
Four weeks later, about May 30, 2013, Sgt. Stefan Fish of the task force called Klay’s boss at South Lake Tahoe Fire and told him about the traffic stop, according to court documents.
It’s not clear exactly what was said in the phone call, but a few days later, Klay was called in to meet with his fire chief. He was then fired from his job, which was as a probationary firefighter because he recently started.
I hope this young fellow sues the Krap out of all the people involved.
most of the Police could not tell the difference between a mom & pop club and the real Gangsters.
our own Police Force is trying to shut down the Tahoe Toy Run for that very reason.
First off a probationary employee can be let go for any reason by a public employer. The article is in the Santa Cruz Sentinel and there are pictures of some of these “club” members and people can judge for themselves what the impression is. My impression never of having heard of this group before is they sure look and dress and wear patches that don’t look like any charity group bikers and a picture is always worth a thousand words. I am pretty sure this type of conduct is covered in employee rules for public safety employees and it is prohibited under standards of conduct and this is why there was a termination which will fall under the any reason rule.
“Justice” thinks that it’s OK for this Fish dude to abuse his authority. What a dick both of them are.
Creeps
Mr. Fool-man you are surely one. Once more, An employee of a public agency on probation can be let go for any reason as affirmed by several court rulings. End of story. Violation of the standards of conduct are also cause for termination for regular employees. If someone in another agency is aware of conduct in violation and they thought it best to advise the employer it is their call and generally not illegal unless it is false which in this case the pictures are self evident and tell the tale. Public safety employees are held to higher standards for a reason and the employer has the right to terminate for any reason by law.
Mr. Justice, Although I am no labor law expert… I know that you are correct about probationary employees being let go for pretty much anything. That being said, the rest of your argument lacks merit. Based on the information contained in this article, there is really no reason or probable cause to warrant a traffic stop. If the officer observed an infraction, it isn’t noted here. This young man has chosen a profession dedicated to public service and safety, it is rather unlikely that Mr. Klay was riding his motorcycle as to endanger himself or other motorists. He was not cited for anything which means he was LEGAL. What do you think the law enforcement agency said to the SLT Fire Dept.? I seriously doubt it was something like “We pulled one of your guys over and he was completely legal so you should discipline him”. What rite does this officer have to contact an employer anyway? If he was dressed in a clown suit…would the cop have called the circus to report that one of the clowns was riding his motorcycle legally???
Sorry, but your argument is weak at best.
FIRST OF ALL. AS JUSTICE SAID PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES CAN BE LET GO AT ANYTIME. NO REASON HAS TO BE GIVEN.BUT!! WERE “JUSTICE SAYS” DOES NOT KNOW HIS ASS FROM A HOLE IN THE GROUND. THE CHIEF AT SLT WAS ALSO PROBATIONARY A INTERN CHIEF.AND SCREWED HIMSELF AND SLT FIRE.IF “JUSTICE SAY” WOULD HAVE READ THE WHOLE STORY AND REPORT. THE INTERN CHIEF WROTE WHY THE FIREFIGHTER WAS FIRED.LOTS OF LETTERS AND EMAILS.BETWEEN SGT. BOTTOM FEEDER AND THE INTERN CHIEF.PUBLIC RECORD NOW. BY WRITING WHY HE WAS FIRED,IS WHY THE CHIEF AND SLT AND SGT BOTTOM FEEDER SANTA CRUZ COUNTY WILL PAY…..9 VIOLATIONS UNDER THE LAW……. YOUR A FOOL JUSTICE SAYS.